I am an architect and not practicing any more due health issues. Last evening I received a mail purportedly from a representative of Autodesk suggesting I perform an audit of my computer and apprise him of details of software I have installed in my computer.

Based on the contents of the email, which I have reproduced verbatim (in italics) at the end of this query, I have a feeling that the rep is trying to sell or push an Autodesk License in a veiled intimidating tactics. I neither use any Autodesk products nor have any Autodesk software installed in my computer, the reason Autodesk does not have on records any registered License of their products in my name or in my companies. Also I am not at all interested in the offers Autodesk suggests.

Shall be deeply obliged if an expert can guide me if I should respond to the mail or ignore it altogether, and, If I am needed to respond, am I legally bound to undertake the unwarranted audit check of my computer and share the confidential contents of my computer with the rep on the basis of the mail reproduced below? Also kindly suggest how I can dissuade Autodesk from harassing me just because they are software giants and I belong to the community that.Autodesk aims to serve with their productsThanks and Regards.

Extract of email:

Dear Sir,

1. We write to you on behalf of Autodesk India Private Ltd.

2. Autodesk India Private Limited is a subsidiary of Autodesk Inc. (“Autodesk”). Autodesk is the copyright owner of various software titles including, but not limited to, AutoCAD, 3ds Max and Maya (“Autodesk Products”). Autodesk India Private Ltd. is duly authorized to enforce the copyrights that protect the Autodesk Products in India.

3. The records show that your company does not hold any registered license from Autodesk, though you may be using some of their products.

4. We request you to check at your end if you are using any Autodesk Products. The use or installation of any Autodesk Product requires a corresponding license, which authorizes the use or installation. At this point, we are approaching you in good faith and request that you carry out an audit of your machines. In the event that there is a shortfall of licenses, or any licenses which are not properly procured, please reach out to us and we will be glad to assist you. Kindly revert to us by April 13, 2016 with your audit results.

5. To help customers, Autodesk has introduced Desktop subscription licenses. There are numerous advantages to these licenses, namely:a) They are term based, which means that customers purchase them for the duration for which they need them. This model is ideal for customers with project based needs;b) Their upfront cost is significantly lower than perpetual licenses, thereby reducing customers’ cash outlay and helping cash flow;c) They are easy to manage and control.

6. Please note that Autodesk treats any infringement of its copyright very seriously. The Autodesk legal counsel informs us that Autodesk software is protected under The Copyright Act, 1957 of India ("the Act") and other related laws.

7. The legal counsel also notes that under Section 63B of the Act, the use of unlicensed software is a cognizable and non-bailable criminal offence; further, that under Section 69 of the Act, every person, who at the time the offence was committed, was in charge of the conduct of the business of the company committing such infringement, shall be deemed to be guilty of such offence and will be punished accordingly.

8. Besides the compliance issues set out above, there are risks relating to software and data security; malware; computer viruses as well as down time resulting from a lack of technical support that licensed users may enjoy. All such risks may cause serious negative impacts on your company’s regular business operation as well as corporate reputation.

9. For that reason, we ask that you kindly contact at ......................... by April 13, 2016. We look forward to hearing from you.

Kind regards,Names and contact details of the Autodesk representative has been deleted.

Hi Just check your computer or the computers of your employees(if any). in all probability without your knowledge one of your employee might have downloaded autodesk software (CAD/CAM or BIM or fusion 360) from internet or might have installed a pirated software in their lap top or desk top. From your previous question i understand that you use third party software (either provided by client or downloaded from internet) which in essence might be pirated and hence you got this notice from autodesk. In case there is a pirated software you can delete the same or choose to buy the software from autodesk. better to do an thorough audit as the penalties will run in to lakhs.

Hi Just check your computer or the computers of your employees(if any). in all probability without your knowledge one of your employee might have downloaded autodesk software (CAD/CAM or BIM or fusion 360) from internet or might have installed a pirated software in their lap top or desk top. From your previous question i understand that you use third party software (either provided by client or downloaded from internet) which in essence might be pirated and hence you got this notice from autodesk. In case there is a pirated software you can delete the same or choose to buy the software from autodesk. better to do an thorough audit as the penalties will run in to lakhs.

Thank you very much for responding... I need to clarify a few points here... 1. I do not have any staff working for me who could have used my computer hence I am very sure that I have never installed or used any Autodesk software personally nor allowed any third party installations by a client2. In the meanwhile I have carried out a detailed audit of the system and the reports shows no traces of any Autodesk related software in my machine.3. My concern here is about the files created by a third party client at their end. I have no way to know if the client providing me the drawing files (read works) in dwg format use a legal software or not. For example a person may be working on a pirated software to churn out a drawing. This drawing is provided to me by my clients for further development according to the nature of my contract with my client. I work on the same drawing file, but the software I use, though absolutely legal and legitimate and licensed, is not a Autodesk product but can edit and save files with same dwg extensions as AutoCAD. Its like me mailing you a draft using a pirated Microsoft Word Which you edit using a legal licesenced alternative software that can read, open, edit and can save files in a number of formats common to MS Word. As far as I understand this is perfectly legal. The CAD software I use by default saves files (works) with the same extension AutoCAD saves its files.

The question is will it amount to illegal practices if I work on a piece of work (using my perfectly legal licensed software for my part of the job) that may have been created using a pirated software... is that legal or illegal?I hope I have been able to make my point more clear...Thanks again...

HI You will be in no way responsible if your client is using pirated software and provide you the same to work, develop, modify and return it to the client. As long as you use a licensed software that is sufficient . it does not matter whether your licensed software has API that can edit and save files in dwg. As long as you use a licensed software, then you are purely on the right side of law. So you can ignore the mail from autodesk for now. but should they revert, let them know that you use a licensed software that has API to save and edit files in dwg format.